ON A BUZZ: Greerton Lotto owner Belinda Sands is thrilled at selling a $4.5 million winning Lotto ticket at the weekend.PHOTO/GEORGE NOVAK
ON A BUZZ: Greerton Lotto owner Belinda Sands is thrilled at selling a $4.5 million winning Lotto ticket at the weekend.PHOTO/GEORGE NOVAK
A retired Tauranga couple who have been playing Lotto for more than 25 years have taken out $4.5 million in what has been described as an 'incredible winning streak'.
The couple contacted Lotto after Saturday night's draw to claim the win, made up of $4 million from Powerball First Divisionand $500,000 from Lotto First Division.
The ticket was bought from Greerton Lotto and its win comes on the heels of Papamoa couple Ian and Robyn taking home $100,000 from spinning the Winning Wheel in the weekend's draw. See below.
They are a retired couple. They've played Lotto since it began, so they are really, really happy. They are actually relaxed but really excited.
Lotto communications manager Katy Atkin said they were yet to formally confirm the first division win, which was expected to take a few days, but they were "thrilled" for the couple.
"It's such a fantastic start to the year," she said.
"They are a retired couple. They've played Lotto since it began, so they are really, really happy. They are actually relaxed but really excited," she said.
Greerton Lotto owner Belinda Sands said it was the biggest win in her 12-year history at the store.
Ms Sands said she found out online Saturday night and had been wracking her brain trying to work out who the lucky winner was.
Ms Sands said her clientele base were "very loyal", with about 80 per cent of customers weekly Lotto players. She said it was heartwarming to learn it was local regulars.
"It's actually the highlight of the job for me. So many weeks you are saying 'sorry, not a winning ticket'. Now to have something like this, it just gives you a huge buzz for the whole shop.
"People say 'oh, yeah but you get a cut from it' but no, that's not what it's about."
Mr Sands said the win could be the result of karma following a Facebook campaign to reunite a lost teddy bear with its owner after it was left in the shop.
Ms Sands posted a photo and asked people to share it online if efforts of finding its owner, which worked. The photo was shared more than 280 times.
It's an incredible winning streak.
Greerton Four Square owner Jay Lal said the Lotto store was always busy with Lotto punters and the win was great news for the area.
"It's good for the community when there's a big win. People get excited," Mr Lal said.
Greerton resident Johnny Gota said he hoped the money was won by someone needing it.
Mr Gota plays Lotto each week but usually gets his tickets while doing the supermarket shopping.
Mr Gota said if he won big, he would want to pay his mortgage off and "help some sick kids or something like this".
"Life is difficult for everybody."
The Tauranga First Division win was one of two in New Zealand. The other winning ticket was sold at Jellicoe Court Bookstore in Auckland.
Strike Four jackpotted and is expected to be worth $300,000 in this week's draw.
Lotto's general manager corporate communications Emilia Mazur said shortly after the draw, six players had become multi-millionaires within the space of six weeks.
